BW35: Police procedurals

 It's week 35 in our 52 Books Quest and this week is all about Police Procedurals. I love police procedurals and there are so many to choose from.  

Currently reading Patricia Brigg's Soul Taken and Mercy is being put through the ringer with this one.  I feel like I should go back and reread the series again at some point.  

"The vampire Wulfe is missing. Since he’s deadly, possibly insane, and his current idea of “fun” is stalking me, some may see it as no great loss. But, warned that his disappearance might bring down the carefully constructed alliances that keep our pack safe, my mate and I must find Wulfe—and hope he’s still alive. As alive as a vampire can be, anyway.  

But Wulfe isn’t the only one who has disappeared. And now there are bodies, too. Has the Harvester returned to the Tri-Cities, reaping souls with his cursed sickle? Or is he just a character from a B horror movie and our enemy is someone else?  

The farther I follow Wulfe’s trail, the more twisted—and darker—the path becomes. I need to figure out what’s going on before the next body on the ground is mine."


I read Soul Taken, twice because it was so good.  Finished Ilona Andrews Iron and Magic which was a great second read.

Seanan McGuire’s 16th book in her October Daye series Be the Serpent was just released so will be reading it next.


I added a bunch of books to my stacks:  While birthday shopping for hubby at Barnes and Noble picked up a few books for me:  Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, Mark Pryor’s Book Artist, Susan Mallery’s Boardwalk Bookshop, and Alice Henderson’s A Blizzard of Polar Bears.  Already read Boardwalk Bookshop which was quite emotional and really good.

Oh and guess what dummy me did. I went on Amazon and choose four books I loved to send as birthday gifts to family in Texas and they suddenly arrived here. I didn’t change the address. Doi! Fortunately they are ones I wanted to read again: Shannon’s Priory of the Orange Tree,  Arden’s Bear and the Nightingale, Rollin’s Sandstorm, and Coes Power Down  so added them to my stacks and will arrange for gift certificates or something instead.

James M's review of IDW Sonic issue 51 and 52









We're back, after holding off long enough, we're delving into the latest two issues of IDW Sonic from issue 51 to 52. Both of which unfold in the aftermath of issue 50 as we see Sonic, Tails and Belle try to escape from Doctor Eggman's sinister city of Eggtropolis. 

Through the writing of Ian Flynn and Evan Stanley, we see one heck of a suspenseful and intense story. 51 gets a 9.5 and 52 gets a 10, the writers do a really good job and Sonic's characterization is just fine aside from that 'Big Oof" moment that got the fandom up in a tizzy just like with how Shadow was portrayed thus far in the series. 

Regardless, IDW chugs along as if there were no flaws whatsoever. These stories have been giving us very quality Sonic content in the past few years, especially well after the first Sonic movie came out and SEGA is the most generous video game company in the world.

After this, I can hardly, hardly wait to see what is in store for us fans.

-James M


Whereas our staycation goes wonky!



Our staycation turned into a topsy turvy week: Our 30 year old air conditioning finally decided to break beyond John's capability to fix it, so had it fixed to work temporarily and getting estimates to replace. Meanwhile it's been too hot to cook so choose Cattleman's for our anniversary and Cheesecake factory for John's bday. College course for James was a bust due to difficulty so dropped it and need to enroll him in something else. We did get him a new mattress set which will only take a couple weeks to be delivered. Yeah. Went to Naturwood shopping for leather couch and fell in love with a couple but they are too huge for our living room. Poo! Any changes such as different color or configuration will take 19 weeks to get done. Going to another store tomorrow to see what they have.

Did get a chance to go to Barnes and Noble and picked up a few books: Pierce Brown's Red Rising, Mark Pryor's Book Artist, Susan Mallery's Boardwalk Bookshop, and Alice Henderson's A Blizzard of Polar Bears.

BW34: What does the number 14 have to do with our staycation?



It's week 34 in our 52 Books Quest and this week is all about the number 14 Merriam Webster defines it as 'a number that is one more than thirteen'. That's it, I kid you not. Other dictionaries (real ones) state it is a cardinal number, ten plus four; equal to seven times two, or six less than twenty; a symbol 14 or XIV; a set of persons or things.

I'm still rereading and reading Ilona Andrews Guild Hunter series.  Discovered I stopped after book 7 and didn't read 8 - 10 so currently reading for the first time Book 8 Magic Shifts. 

"After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…"


Our Saturday night movie was Jurassic World Dominion. Very enjoyable! 

And It's official! Our staycation has begun. We took a week off from work for the first time in four years, maybe five, maybe six years. I can't remember. First there was the construction, then business took off, then Covid, and business is still booming. It's been a while.

We're taking advantage of the fact that this week is our anniversary, John's birthday, and James starting fall classes online.  We're looking forward to a  little bit of downtime,  as well as furniture shopping and some garage cleaning. The garage cleaning may be put on hold is our 100 degree weather continues this week.  Plus John's excited about spending a day playing in a friend's music studio.  

And Yes, lots of reading will be involved as well.  ~ cheers ~




James M's review of Archie Sonic Online Issue 252

 









All right, fellow fans. Archie Sonic Online #252 is here. 

That's right, after a couple years, Archie Sonic Online finally reached issue 252. The folks there are incredible and talented people, Sonic fan projects have never been more greater than ever. 

We're now in the final stretch of the King Naugus arc and things have hit their peak with the stakes higher than ever as a deranged Naugus has taken full possession of Geoffrey St. John and King Elias has no choice but to reveal himself and the Secret Freedom Fighters to all of the citizens of New Mobotropolis.

And so, what do I think of such a lovely fan comic issue?

I'll say, it's masterfully fantastic with good writing, really good writing on par with the writing of any officially licensed piece of media. My score for this one would have to be a ten, I could have given it a 9.5 or an 8, but it's too perfect to not grant a ten score to. Bravo, ASO. Bring on an epic finale, ya'll...

-James M


BW33: A bit of this, a bit of that


It's book week 33 in our 52 books quest and I finished Nalini Singh's Storm Echo which was very exciting with a lot happening and well worth a reread. Can't say more without spoiling.

Currently rereading Ilona Andrew's Guild Hunter series with Kate Daniels.

I finally gave up on Middlemarch. Got to the chapter 26, then decided I was done. Skipped to read the last chapter to find out what happened with the characters. Glad decided to quit.....

Steven James, Dana Stabenow, and Nalini Singh, OH MY

 I finished rereading the psychological thriller The Bishop by Steven James. #4 in the Patrick Bowers series. Don't know why I skipped around for this one, but one day I'll have to go back and reread the series in order.  The lead character is a criminologist and the characters gets deep into philosophy as well  which was interesting so lots of deep thinking.  The first book, The Pawn, is available on Kindle Unlimited if you want to check it out. 

Read Dana Stabenow's 2nd book in her Kate Shugak series - A Fatal Thaw - which fit in with our 52 books bingo category since Kate's side kick is Mutt, a female part wolf, part husky. 

Nalini Singh's #6 in her psy/changeling series, Storm Echo arrived today so excited to begin reading it. 


 

BW32: Quests and Quips.



It's book week 32 in our 52 Books quest. From The Dogfather series by Roxanne St. Claire to the running joke of we don't know what the heck Gracie is in the Armand Gamache Series by Louise Penny to Erin Hunter's Warrior Cats to Lillian Jackson Braun's Cat Who series, the characters with paws make the story and are a joy to read. Join me for this week's 52 Books Bingo category reading about Curious Cats and Courageous Canines.


The Armand Gamache series put me in the mood for more detective stories:  This past week I finished Jayne Ann Krentz's Sizzle and Burn, #3 in her Arcane Society series in which Raine hears voices of whoever touched something and Zach sees visions.  Also finally dove into dusty book Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon and was introduced to Commissario Brunetti.  Look forward to reading more in the series. 

Currently reading Steven James fourth book in his Patrick Bowers Series - The Bishop 

"F.B.I. Special Agent Patrick Bowers's cutting edge 21st century geospatial investigative techniques and impeccable logic have helped him track some of the country's most grisly killers. But those skills are pushed to the limit in this new installment of the highly acclaimed, award winning The Bowers Files series.This time it's a congressman's daughter who is found dead even as her killers launch a spree of perfect murders in the Northeast. With nothing to link the crimes to each other, Agent Bowers faces his most difficult case yet even as his personal life begins to crumble around him."

Celebrated James 23rd birthday on Friday and at his request we enjoyed a gourmet meal of McDonalds and watched Lego Summer Vacation. 😁 Saturday night we watched Lightyear which turned out to be better than I expected.